Weight supporting mechanism



Jan. 10, 1961 R. A. FORBES WEIGHT SUPPORTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 15, 1957 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. FORBES WW FIG. IE].

ATTORNEYS Jan. 10, 1961 R. A. FORBES WEIGHT SUPPORTING MECHANISM FiledJuly 15, 1957 -226 i: ,4; /ZZ FIG. 5. 47

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. El.

INVENTOR.

ROBERT A. FORBES ATTORNEYS WEIGHT SUPPORTING MECHANISM Robert A. Forbes,515 Harrison St., Monroe, Mich.

Filed July 15, 1957, Ser. No. 671,818

10 Claims. (Cl. 187-1) This invention relates to devices for lifting,supporting, transporting and lowering objects and more particularly todevices of this type having sliding supports or anchoring devicestherefor.

An object of this invention is to provide means for lifting, supporting,and lowering heavy, elongate objects, such as metal bars, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide means of the abovecharacter having a pair of spaced fulcrumforming means, each of whichalternately advances upwardly following the load as the load issupported by the other thereof, the load being rocked into alternateco-operation with the fulcrums, said fulcrum-forming means beingsupported against downward movement when a downwardly acting force isapplied by the cooperating load.

Another object of this invention is to provide means of the abovecharacter in which each fulcrum is connected in co-operative relation torespective fulcrumanchoring means slidable along guide means to move thefulcrum upwardly when the load is raised, and to securely grip the guidemeans when downwardly directed forces are applied to the fulcrum, theguide means being secured against longitudinal movement, but at leastone of the guide means engaged by each fulcrum anchoring means beingrotatable angularly about its axis whereby the rotation of the rotatableguide means, while a directed force is facing upon the respectivefulcrums, will produce controlled downward movement of the fulcrum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of parallelguides, at least one of said guides being cylindrical and rotatableabout its axis, a plurality of fulcrum anchoring means each comprising arunner adapted to be connected to a load engaging fulcrum, the runnerbeing adapted to slide freely along and in co-operation with a pair ofsaid parallel guides, at least one of which is rotatable, a traileradapted for sliding longitudinally of the said pair of guides, thetrailer being gravitationally urged downwardly away from the runner, apair of apertured dog or lock levers each encircling a portion of arespective one of said guides, the first lock lever being adapted toco-operate with a fulcrumforming portion of said runner adjacent one ofits ends, and being pivotally connected to a link adjacent its otherend, the second lock lever being pivotally connected to said link at apoint spaced from said first lever and adjacent its other end being inco-operative relation to a fulcrum-forming portion of the trailer,whereby move -ment of the runner away from the trailer serves to lockthe levers in relation to the respective guides to effect frictionalinterlocking of said levers and guides to secure the runner in fixedcorresponding relation to theguides,

and whereby relative movement of the runner toward the trailer tends toswing the levers into non-locking relationship relative to the guides.

A further object of this invention is to provide a de- United States atevice of the above character in which at least one of the 2 guides isright cylindrical, secured against axial displace ment and journaled forangular rotation about its axis, whereby rotation of said guide when thelock levers are in locking engagement with said guides permitscontrolled movement of the fulcrum anchoring means longitudinally of theguide in the same d.rection which normally results in firm locking ofthe anchoring means in fixed relation to the guides in the absence ofsuch rotation.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will in partbe obvious and will in part be apparent to those having ordinary skillin the art to which this invention pertains from the accompanyingdescription and drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a device embodying the presentinvention in what presently appears to be a preferred form inco-operative engagement with an elongate metal bar; a

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of a portion of thedevice shown in Fig. 1, showing fulcrum anchoring means in associationwith a pair of guide members;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig.2 taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3,the fulcrum anchoring means being shown in locked relationship to theguides;

. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation, partly in section,'of the mechanismillustrated in Fig. 4, the anchoring means being in unlockedrelationship to the guides;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view in front elevation of a device of thecharacter illustrated in Fig. 1 in co-operative relation to an elongatemetal bar to be lifted, illustrating movement of the bar andaccompanying movement of the fulcrums and anchoring means therefor; I

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 in which the metal bar has beenraised to a position higher than that in which it is shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7in association with a metal bar illustrating operation of the deviceincident to lowering of the bar;

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section taken along th lines 99 in Fig.6, portions of the device shown in Fig. 6 being omitted; and

I Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section of a modified form of embodimentof the invention generally corresponding to Fig. 4.

In the specification and the drawings, like reference charactersindicate like parts. Y

The device illustrated in Fig. 1 has a strong, rigid base 20 ofsubstantially rectangular shape supported upon swivel casters 21. A pairof spaced, parallel, upright, side frame members 22, 23 of substantiallytriangular shape are secured in unitary relation to base 20 adjacenttheir lower or base edges. A top spreader member 24 is supported by,extends between and couples the upper portions of spaced side framemembers 22, 23 to which it is secured in fixed relation. An upright web25 extends substantially perpendicularly to base 20 and sideframemembers 22, 23. Web 25 adjacent its lower edge is secured to base20 and along its upright lateral edges to the side frame members 22, 23to strengthen and rigidify the assembly, which comprises base 20, sideframe members 22, 23, top spreader member 24 and web 25,

and which serves as the frame of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

It may be noted that the side frame members 22, 23 illustrated in Fig. lare substantially right triangularin shape.- Each of the side framemembers 22, 23' ha s,- a vertical edge 36 and an inclined edge 37 whichextend thereby.

from adjacent base 20 upwardly toward top spreader member 24. Acorresponding triangular portion of each of the side frame members 22,23 is cut away to provide a .notch in the inclined edge 37, each of thenotches being bounded by a supporting or lower edge face 38 and a secondedge face 39 which may be substantially parallel to the respective edge36.

Four spaced, parallel guide members 26, 27, 28 and 29 extend between andare supported in co-operative relationship with base 20 and top spreadermember 24. Guide members 26 and 27, as shown, are cylindrical bars theend portions of which are secured in fixed relation to base 20, and topspreader member 24, respectively. I .prefer that guide members 26 and 27be secured to base 20 by any suitable means which will preclude axialdisplacement of those members relative to base 29. Guide members 28 and29 have their lower end portions journaled for rotation in base portion20 and are secured against axial displacement relative to the baseportion 20 by collars or any suitable means (not shown). Guide members28 and 29 extend upwardly from base 20 through spreader member 24 inspaced, parallel relation to each other and to stationary guides 26 and27. In the device shown inFig. 1, suitable aligned bearing members, suchas bronze bearing sleeves 32 and 33 may be provided respectively in base20 and top spreader member 24 for co-operatively supporting the guides28 and 29 which are thus journaled for axial rotation, while, aspreviously explained, being secured against axial displacement.

Guide members 28 and 29, as shown in Fig. 1, project upwardly throughtop spreader member 24. Levers 36, 31 are secured, respectively, to theprojecting portions of guides 28 and 29, and extend radially therefrom.I prefer that levers 30 and 31 be connected so as to remain insubstantially parallel relationship to each other. This may beaccomplished by means of a suitable coupling or link member, and, asshown in Fig. l, the link may be in the form of an elongate handle 35through which a pair of parallel, longitudinal bores 34 extend. Levers30 .and 31 are received in respective bores 34. The bores 34 may belarger in diameter than the levers 30, 31 so as to loosely receive therespective levers. Coupling handle 35 may be secured to lever 30 in amanner which precludes axial movement of handle 35 along lever 39 whilepermitting axial and canting movement of lever 31 in the respective bore34 provided in handle '35. Thus, guide 28 may be oscillated about itsaxis by swinging of lever 30 and associated coupling handle 35. Couplinghandle 35 in co-operative relation with lever 31 serves to efiect acorresponding movement of lever 31 to .oscillate guide member 29. Thecoupling handle 35, determines the maximum and minimum spacing betweenlevers 30 and 31, and serves to limit swinging of those levers to apredetermined are.

I provide anchoring means designated generally by reference characters50 and 51 in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 each in co-operating relation with arespective pair of guides 26, 28, 29, 27. That is, I provide oneanchoring means 50 in co-operating relation with stationary guide 26 andoscillatable guide 28, and a second anchoring means 51 in co-operativeassociation with oscillatable guide 29 and stationary guide 27. Each ofthe anchoring means has a runner 41 upon which an external hook 42 issecured. Connecting means such as chains 43, 46, are each secured to arespective book 42. Each chain 43, 46 extends in substantially spacedparallel relation upwardly over the top spreader member 24 and therefromdownwardly to an object to be lifted, or supported, such as bar 44. Anend book 45, 47 is provided respectively on each chain 43, 46 adjacentthe load, bar 44, supported Hooks 45, 47, respectively engage links ofchains 43, 46 spaced from the hook end of the chain to form respectiveloops 48, 49 of fixed size encircling and which serve as supporting and.fulcrum means for the load, bar 44.

The anchoring means 50, 51 both function alike and are constructedalike, except that one may be a mirror image of the other as shown inFig. 1. For this reason the detailed description of anchor 50 whichfollows is equally applicable to anchor 51. Like reference characterswill be applied to corresponding parts of the anchors 50 and 51.

Anchor 50 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4. and 5. Runner 41(as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3) may be a tube-like member ofrectangular section having a top portion 52 and a bottom portion 53 inspaced parallel relation. An aperture 54 is provided in top portion 52through which guide 28 co-operatively extends. Aligned apertures 55 and56 are provided in portions 52 and 53, respectively, through which guide26 co-operatively extends. The co-operation of runner 41 and guides 26and 28 serves to limit runner 41 to movements longitudinally of theguides. The apertures 54, 55, and 56 are of a size and shape whichallows smooth, free sliding of runner 41 along the guides 26, 28 with aminimum of play.

A trailer 57 is mounted for reciprocation along guides 26, 28 belowrunner 41. As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, trailer 57 has a topportion 58 and bottom portion 59 joined in parallel relation by web orwall 60. A pair of aligned apertures 61, 62 are provided respectively intop and bottom portions 58, 59 of trailer 57. A third" is substantiallylimited to movements longitudinally of the guides. As shown most clearlyin Figs. 2, 4, and 5, runner 41 and trailer 57, when in cooperativeengagement with guides 26,28 do not directly engage each other.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, an aperture is pro 'vided in web orwall 60 of trailer 57 adjacent bottom portion 59 of the trailer. Thisaperture, indicated by reference character 64, in the illustratedembodiment is a rectangular opening, the lower bounding face portion ofwhich is shown coplanar with the upper surface of bottom portion 59. Theface portion bounding aperture 64 opposite the bounding face portionwhich is coplanar with the upper surface of trailer bottom 59 isdesignated by the reference character 64a and serves as a fulcrum in themanner which will be explained subsequently herein.

A pair of levers 65 and 66 are provided. Long or trailer lever 65 andshort or runner lever 66 are both longitudinally slotted from theircorresponding respective ends 67. 68 to form a pair of spaced, parallelintegral arm portions on each lever. Respective end portions of aconnecting link 69 extend into the slots between the armportions'adjacent ends 67, 68 of the levers. Link 69 is joined to andbetween the arm portions of lever 65 by pivot pin 70 and to and betweenthe arm portions of lever 66 by pivot pin 71. A fulcrum parallel topivot pin 71, such as bar 72, is a fixed or integral portion of runner41 adapted to co-operate with lever 66 adjacent its end 73 remote fromits end 68. An aperture 74 is provided in lever 66 between and spacedfrom pivot pin 71 and fulcrum bar 72. Guide 26 extends through aperture74, which, as a result, is substantially in registry with apertures 55and 56 in runner 41. The slot between the integral arm portions of lever65 is longer than the slot provided in lever 66. Guide 26 extendsthrough the slot between the arm portions of lever 65 and may co-operatewith lever 65 only to the extent of assisting in the alignment of thelever in con junction with guide 28 which extends through an aper' tui'e75 provided in lever 65 adjacent end 76 thereof.

Lever 65 adjacent its end 76 has a portion which extends into aperture64 provided in a web or wall 60 of trailer 57. As shown in Fig. 5,aperture 64 is so located that lever 65 may lie in flatwise engagementwith the upper surface of portion 59 of runner 57 and also in flatwiseengagement with the under face of lower portion 53 of runner 41. Asshown in Fig. 5, the link 69 is of a length such that it and the fulcrum72 support lever 66 in substantially parallel relation to lever 65 whenthe latter is between and in fiatwise engagement with the opposed facesof bottom portions 59 and 53 of trailer 57, and runner 41, respectively.Thus, when runner 41, trailer 57, levers 65, 66 and link 69 are in therelative positions illustrated in Fig. 5, the anchoring means is freelyslidable longitudinally of the guides 26, 28. When guides 26, 28 asillustrated in Fig. l, are in upright position, the anchoring means tendto be urged downwardly by the force of gravity. However, downwardmovement of runner 41, as shown in Fig. 1, is subjected to restraininginfluences imposed upon hook 42 through chain 43 by the load, bar 44.The load, bar 44, tends to draw chain 43 in a direction such that thehook 42 is urged upwardly by forces exceeding the force of gravity.Trailer 57 is not directly connected to runner 41 and tends to movedownwardly under force of gravity (represented by the arrow G, Fig. 4)at all times. The load, bar 44, through chain 43 and book 42, serves toimpose an upwardly directed force, represented by the arrow L (Fig. 4),upon runner 41. The force L is greater than the force of gravity Gacting upon runner 41. Thus, the 'forces 6 and L serve to urge therunner 41 and trailer .parallel relation in the plane in which Fig. 4 istaken,

that is, as trailer 41 is moved in the direction of arrow L, fulcrum 72in mechanical engagement with lever 66 adjacent its end 73, tends toraise that end of lever 66. Likewise,,movernent of trailer 57 in thedirection indicated by arrow G results in cooperative engagement betweenthe upper face of lever 65 and the edge face bounding aperture 64. Thus,as viewed in Fig. 4, lever 65 is urged to swing in a clockwise directionabout pivot pin 70 while lever 66 is urged to move in the opposite orcounterclockwise direction about pivot pin 71. Swinging of levers 65 and66 in opposite directions from the positions of parallelism as shown inFig. 5 to the positions of non-parallel relationship, shown in Fig. 4,results in gripping or binding engagement between the wall of aper- Hire74 and the surface of guide 26 and the wall of aperture 75 and thesurface of guide 28. The greater the force exerted in the direction Lupon runner 44, the greater the gripping of levers 65, 66 upon guides28, 26 will be. Thus the greater the load supported by chains 43, 46 thegreater the resistance of the anchoring means to movement in thedirection indicated by arrow L.

As shown in Fig. 1, an object to be lifted, such as bar 44, is supportedby two spaced, encircling fixed loop portions of chains 43, 46. To placethe chains in encircling relation to the load, such as bar 44, one. endof bar 44 is raised by suitable means such as a jack or the like whichapplies the supporting force indicated by arrow :1 to permit positioningof the chains. As shown in Fig. 6, chains 43, 46 extend from the loopportions encircling bar 44 to hook 42 of the respective anchoring means50, 51, when the latter are positioned adjacent the upper ends of theguide members along which they travel.

The bar 44, at the outset, may be in the position illus trated in fulllines in Fig. 6. The anchoring means 50, 51 as previously explained,move freely downwardly under gravity, but resist movement upwardly alongthe guides. The weight of the runner 41 of each anchoring means 50, 51is sufficiently great to take up the slack in the respective chains 43,46 extending to the bar 44. '-With bar 44 in the starting position justdescribed, the

center of gravity C of bar 44 lies between the spaced locationssupportingly engaged by chains 43, 46. The support I may be withdrawnfrom the elevated end of the bar and the bar will remain in the positionshown in full lines, supported by chains 43, 46. To raise bar 44 fromthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, it is swung clockwisethrough an angle indicated by arrows O to the position shown in dashedlines in Fig. 6, chain 43 providing the fulcrum at 77 about which thebar swings. The load is thus placed upon chain 43 and is removed fromchain 46 by swinging through angle 0. Chain 46, when relieved from theload of bar 44, tends to slacken, but anchor 51 slides down guides 27,29 and takes up such slack. Thereafter, bar 44 may be swung in acounter-clockwise direction, through anangle as indicated by arrows T,about a fulcrum point at 78 provided by chain 46. While bar 44 swings asindicated by arrows T, anchor 50 slides down guides 26, 28 taking upslack in chain 43 as the chain moves into position to serve as a fulcrumat 79. The next swing of bar 44 would be about the fulcrum point 79provided by chain 43. Bar 44 is thus raised from the position shown infull lines to that shown in dot-dash lines by swinging successivelythrough angles 0 and T.

The weight of bar 44, when swinging about a fulcrum point provided bychain 43 or 46, is always nearly in balance and the effort required toswing bar 44 is small. The bar 44 is thus easily oscillated, alternatelyin a clockwise direction, supported by chain 43, and in acounterclockwise direction, supported by chain 46, as shown in Fig. 6.Continuous repetitive oscillation of bar 44 in the teetor-totter-likemanner in co-operative relation with the two alternately advancingfulcrums, as described above, will effect raising of bar 44 to theelevation desired.

Normal functioning of anchoring means 50, 51 is such that movement ofrunner 41 relative to trailer 57 is very slight, nearly imperceptible.The small degree of relative movement is believed to stem from the factthat the angular positions of the levers relative to the guides isaltered by a small angle in shifting between the gripping andnon-gripping positions.

It may be noted that as the chain 43 or 46 tends 'to slacken, runner 41tends to slide down the guides and fulcrum 72 tends to drop from contactwith lever 66. However, end 73 of lever 66 tends to swing downwardtoward a horizontal position in which the lever is perpendicular toguide 26. In' so moving, lever 66 normally rests upon fulcrum 72. Link69 also tends to fall as does lever 65 toward the relative positionsshown in Fig. 5 which are limit positions of full release. It may benoted that if lever 65 or 66 sticks, the runner 41 will fall againstlever 65 and jar the levers to release them. Trailer 57 of course tendsto slide down the guides away from runner 41 and thus keeps the leversin readyto-grip relation to the guides in order that slight upwardmovement of runner 41 will effect firm engagement between the levers andguides to preclude further upward movement of the anchoring means. 7 N

When a load, such as bar 44, is to be transported upon the deviceillustrated in thedrawings, I prefer that it rest on the surfaces 38which are inclined downwardly from edge face 37 to surface 39, andagainstsurfaces 39 of the frame members 22, 23. Chains. 43, 46 are leftin co-operative relation to bar 44 for safety and convenience.

Bar 44 may be lowered easily by swinging handle 35 back and forththrough an arc as indicated by arrow H in Fig. 8. Such oscillatorymovement of handle 35 effects unison corresponding oscillation of guides28, 29 about their respective axes, the arc of swing of handle 35 beinglimited by co-operation of handle 35 with levers 30, 31, all aspreviously explained. Movement of handle 35 and accompanying oscillatoryrotation of guides 28, 29 permit controlled sliding movement ofanchoring means 50, 51 longitudinally of the respective guides. Thespeed and distance of movement of the anchoring means'ap 7 pear to berelated to the frequency of oscillation and magnitude of the forceapplied through chains 43, 46 to respective hooks 42 and tending to urgethe respective anchoring means 50, 51 toward top spreader member 24.

I have found that the anchoring means may be modified as shown in Fig.10. The anchoring means illustrated in Fig. 9 differs from the structureof those described above in that aperture 74a in lever 66a and aperture75a in lever 65a are elongated longitudinally of the respective leversto each respectively receive a pair of co-operating shoes 90, 91, aswell as a respective guide 28, 29. The shoes 90 are positioned inopposition in co-operative relation with opposite sides of guide 26a,and with lever 66a. Shoes 91 are in similar co-operative relation withguide 28a and lever 65a. The shoes 90, 91 move longitudinally of guides26a 28a in co-operative association with levers 66a, 65a. As previouslyexplained, the guides are primarily loaded in tension and the provisionof shoes 90, 91 contributes to the useful life of the guides byprotecting their surfaces from permanent surface distortion throughdistribution of gripping forces over a greater area. A lip 590 may beprovided on trailer 57 to permit lever 65a to move into parallelrelation to the bottom portion 59.

Having thus described the invention it will be apparent to those havingordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that variouschanges may be made in the disclosed embodiment, without departing fromeither the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Therefore, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

1. In combination with a pair of parallel guides, an anchoring meansadapted for co-operation with said pair of parallel guides, saidanchoring means comprising a runner slidable along the guides, a trailerslidable along the guides, said runner having a fulcrum adjacent butspaced from one of said guides, said trailer having a fulcrum adjacentbut spaced from the other of said guides, 21 pair of levers eachco-operating with a respective one of said fulcrums and the guideadjacent thereto, and a link coupling the ends of the levers whereby thelevers grip the guides while the runner and the trailer are urged apart.

2. In combination with a pair of parallel guides, an anchoring meansadapted for co-operation with said pair of parallel guides, saidanchoring means comprising a runner slidable along the guides, a trailerslidable along the guides, said runner having a fulcrum adjacent butspaced from one of said guides, said trailer having a fulcrum adjacentbut spaced from the other of said guides, a pair of gripping shoes inco-operating relation with each of said guides, a pair of levers eachco-operating with a respective one of said fulcrums and one pair of saidguide gripping shoes adjacent thereto, a link coupling the ends of thelevers whereby the levers urge the shoes into gripping relation with theguides while the runner and trailer are urged apart.

3. A lifting, supporting and lowering device comprising a frame, aplurality of parallel upwardly extending guides secured to said frame, aplurality of anchoring means each co-operating with two guides one ofwhich is oscillatable, each of said anchoring means comprising a runnerslidable along the guides, a trailer slidable along the guides, saidrunner having a fulcrum adjacent but spaced from one of said guides,said trailer having a fulcrum adjacent but spaced from the other of saidguides, a pair of levers each co-operating with a respective one of saidfulcrums and the guide adjacent thereto, a pair of substantiallyparallel means each coupling a respective one teeter-toner fashionpermits alternate anchoring and 8 movement of the anchoring means, onlyone thereof moving at any time during raising of the load and wherebyboth anchoring means may be advanced along the guides in unison underforces applied by the load when the oscillatable guide is oscillated tolower the load.

4. In combination with a pair of parallel guides; an anchoring meansadapted to co-operate with said pair of parallel guides one of which isoscillatable, said anchoring means comprising a runner slidable alongand adapted to co-operatively engage two spaced portions of a first oneof said guides and one portion of the second of said guides, a fulcrumon said runner adjacent but spaced from said first guide and betweensaid guides, a first lever adapted to cooperative with said fulcrum anda portion of said adjacent guide intermediate said runner engagedportions, a link connected to the end of said lever remote from saidfulcrum, a trailer slidable along said guides and adapted tocooperatively engage two spaced portions of the second guide and oneportion of the first guide, said trailer having a fulcrum adjacent saidsecond guide and remote from said first guide, a second lever incooperative engagement with said trailer fulcrumand adapted toco-operate with a portion of said second guide intermediate said trailerengaged portions, said second lever adjacent its end remote from thetrailer fulcrum being connected to said link in spaced relation to saidfirst lever, whereby relative movement of the trailer away from therunner tends to move the levers into firm gripping engagement with thestationary guides to pre elude movement of the runner in the oppositedirection, and whereby oscillation of the oscillatable guide allowscontrolled movement of the anchoring means in said opposite directionwhen appropriate force is applied to the runner tending to move it inthat direction.

5. In combination with a pair of parallel guides, an anchoring meansadapted to co-operate with said pair of parallel guides one of which isoscillatable, said anchoring means comprising a runner slidable alongand adapted to co-operatively engage two spaced portions of a first oneof said guides and one portion of the second of said guides, a pair ofshoes adapted to co-operate with said first guide intermediate said twospaced portions of the first guide engaged by the runner, a fulcrum onsaid runner between said guides and adjacent but spaced from said firstguide and shoes, a first lever adapted to cooperate with said fulcrumand said shoes, a link connected to the end of said lever remote fromsaid fulcrum, a trailer slidable along said guides and adapted tocooperatively engage two spaced portions of the second guide and oneportion of the first guide, a pair of shoes adapted to co-operate withsaid second guide intermediate said two spaced portions of the secondguide engaged by said trailer, said trailer having a fulcrum adjacentsaid second guide and remote from said first guide, a second lever inco-operative engagement with said trailer fulcrum and adapted toco-operate with the pair of shoes adapted to co-operate with said secondguide intermediate said trailer engaged portions, said second leveradjacent its end remote from the trailer fulcrum being connected to saidlink in spaced relation to said first lever, whereby relative movementof the trailer away from the runner tends to actuate the levers toeffect firm gripping engagement of the shoes with the stationary guidesto preclude movement of the runner in the opposite direction, andwhereby oscillation of the oscillatable guide allows controlled movementof the anchoring means in said opposite direction when appropriate forceis applied to the runner tending to move it in that direction.

6. A lifting, supporting and lowering device comprising a base, a pairof parallel upright side members, a top spreader member extendingbetween, joining and supported by said side members, a plurality ofguide members supported in parallel relation by said base and topspreader member and secured against longitudinal displacement relativeto the base, one guide member being ass-gas mounted for oscillatoryangular movement, means for oscillating said oscillatable guide member,two anchoring means, each anchoring means in co-operating relation totwo guide members one of which is oscillatable, each anchoring meanscomprising a runner slidable along and adapted to co-operatively engagetwo spaced portions of a first one of said guides and one portion of thesecond of said guides, a fulcrum on said runner between said guidesadjacent but spaced from said first guide, a first lever adapted toco-operate with said fulcrum and a portion of said adjacent guideintermediate said runner engaged portions, a link connected to the endof said lever remote from said fulcrum, a trailer slidable along saidguides and adapted to co-operatively engage two spaced portions of thesecond guide and one portion of the first guide, said trailer having afulcrum adjacent said second guide and remote from said first guide, asecond lever in cooperative engagement with said trailer fulcrum andadapted to co-operate with a portion of said second guide intermediatesaid trailer engaged portions, said second lever adjacent its end remotefrom the trailer fulcrum being connected to said link in spaced relationto said first lever, a pair of elongate members each coupled to arespective anchoring means and to a load, said elongate members beingadapted to extend in substantially parallel relation from the anchoringmeans over the top spreader member to the load, each of said elongatemembers being adapted to co-operatively support a load with its centerof gravity disposed between the elongate members whereby the load may beraised by rocking it in teeter-totter fashion and lowered by oscillationof the oscillable guide.

7. A lifting, supporting and lowering device comprising a base, a pairof parallel upright side members each having one of a pair of parallelinclined edge faces adapted to guide an object incident to alteration ofits elevation and an object supporting face adjacent each inclined edgeface for supporting an object as when transporting same, a top spreadermember extending between, joining and supported by said side members, aplurality of guide members supported in parallel relation by said baseand top spreader member and secured against longitudinal displacementrelative to the base, one guide member being mounted for angularoscillatory movement, means for oscillating said oscillatable guidemember, a plurality of anchoring means, each anchoring means inco-operating relation to said oscillatable guide member and one other ofsaid guide members, each anchoring means being biased towardunidirectional movement longitudinally of the respective guides andadapted to engage said guides to preclude opposite movementlongitudinally of the guides so long as neither of the guides oscillatesin an angular fashion, a pair of elongate members each coupled to arespective anchoring means and to an object to be supported, saidelongate members extending in substantially parallel relation over thetop spreader member between the anchoring means and said object, each ofsaid elongate members being adapted to co-operatively support an objectwith its center of gravity disposed between the elongate members wherebythe object may be raised by rocking it in teeter-totter fashion andlowered by oscillation of the oscillatable guide.

8. A lifting, supporting, transporting and lowering device comprising abase having a plurality of supporting traction wheels, a pair ofparallel upright side members, each having one of a pair of parallelinclined edge faces adapted to guide an object incident to alteration ofits elevation, an object incident to alteration of its elevation, anobject supporting face adjacent each inclined edge face for supportingan object as when transporting same, a top spreader member extendingbetween, joining and supported by said side members, a plurality ofguide members supported in parallel relation by said base and topspreader member and secured against longitudinal displacement relativeto the base, one guide member being mounted for oscillatory angularmovement,'means for oscillating said oscillatable guide member, twoanchoring means, each anchoring means in co-operating relation to saidoscillatable guide member and one other of said guide members, eachanchoring means comprising a runner slidable along and adapted toco-operatively engage two spaced portions of a first one of said guidesand one portion of a second one of said guides, a fulcrum on said runnerbetween said guides, said fulcrum being adjacent but spaced from saidfirst mentioned guide, a first lever adapted to co-operate with saidrunner fulcrum and a portion of said adjacent guide intermediate saidrunner engaged portions, a link connected to the end of said leverremote from said fulcrum, a trailer slidable along said guides andadapted to co-operatively engage two spaced portions of the second guideand one portion of the first guide, said trailer having a fulcrumadjacent said second guide and remote from said first guide, a secondlever in co-operative engagement with said trailer fulcrum and adaptedto cooperate with a portion of said second guide intermediate saidtrailer engaged portions, said second lever adjacent its end remote fromthe trailer fulcrum being connected to said link in spaced relation tosaid first lever, a pair of elongate members each coupled to arespective anchoring means and to a load, said elongate members beingadapted to extend in substantially parallel relation from the anchoringmeans over the top spreader member to the load, each of said elongatemembers being adapted to co-operatively support a load with its centerof gravity disposed between the elongate members whereby the load may beraised by rocking it in teeter-totter fashion and lowered by oscillationof the oscillatable guide.

9. A lifting, supporting and lowering device comprising a base, a pairof parallel upright side members each having one of a pair of parallelinclined edge faces adapted to guide an object incident to alteration ofits elevation and an object supporting face adjacent each inclined edgeface for supporting an object as when transporting same, a top spreadermember extending between joining and supported by said side members, aplurality of guide members supported in parallel relation by said baseand top spreader member and secured against longitudinal displacementrelative to the base, a plurality of said guide members being mountedfor angular oscillatory movement, means for oscillating saidoscillatable guide members in unison, a plurality of anchoring means,each anchoring means in co-operating relation to one of saidoscillatable guide members and one other of said guide members, eachanchoring means being biased toward unidirectional movementlongitudinally of the respective guides and adapted to engage saidguides to preclude opposite movement longitudinally of the guides solong as neither of the guides oscillates in an angular fashion, a pairof elongate members each coupled to a respective anchoring means and toan object to be supported, said elongate members extending over the topspreader member between the anchoring means and said object, each ofsaid elongate members being adapted to co-operatively support saidobject with its center of gravity disposed between the elongate members,whereby the object may be raised by rocking it in teeter-totter fashionand lowered by unison oscillation of the oscillatable guides.

10. A lifting, supporting, transporting and lowering device comprising abase having a plurality of supporting traction wheels, a pair ofparallel upright side members, each having one of a pair of parallelinclined edge faces adapted to guide an object incident to alteration ofits elevation, an object supporting face adjacent each inclined edgeface for supporting an object as when transporting same, a top spreadermember extending between, joining and supported by said side members, aplurality of guide members supported in parallel relation by said baseand top spreader member and secured against longitudinal 11 displacementrelative to the base, a plurality of said guide members being mountedfor oscillatory angular movement, means for oscillating saidoscillatable guide members in unison, a plurality of anchoring means,each anchoring means in co-operating relation to one of saidoscillatable guide member and one other of said guide members, eachanchoring means comprising a runner slidable along and adapted toco-operatively engage two spaced portions of a first one of said guidesand one portion of a second of said guides, a fulcrum on said runnerbetween said guides, said fulcrum being adjacent but spaced from saidfirst guide, a first lever adapted to co-operate with said runnerfulcrum and a portion of said adjacent guide intermediate said runnerengaging portions, a link connected to the end of said lever remote fromsaid fulcrum, a trailer slidable along said guides and adapted tocooperatively engage two spaced portions of the second guide and oneportion of the first guide, said trailer having a fulcrum adjacent saidsecond guide and remote from said first guide, a second lever inco-operative engagement with said trailer fulcrum and adapted toco-operate with a portion of said second guide inter- 12 mediate saidtrailer engaged portions, said second lever adjacent its end remote fromthe trailer fulcrum being connected to said link in spaced relation tosaid first lever, a pair of elongate members each coupled to arespective anchoring means and to a load, said elongate members beingadapted to extend in substantially parallel relation from the anchoringmeans over the top spreader member to the load, each of said elongatemembers being adapted to co-operatively support a load with its centerof gravity disposed between the elongate members, whereby the load maybe raised by rocking it in teeter-totter fashion and lowered by unisonoscillation of the oscillatable guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

